Best places to visit in Sri Lanka
Where to go in every district, with the best time to visit, local food and festivals.
AmparaEast-coast surf at Arugam Bay, the wilds of Kumana and Gal Oya, and wide paddy plains.3 placesAnuradhapuraSri Lanka’s first great capital: giant stupas, ancient reservoirs and the sacred Bo tree.8 placesBadullaHill country of tea estates, waterfalls and the famous train line through Ella.7 placesBatticaloaLagoons, the calm bay at Pasikudah and a Dutch fort on the east coast.2 placesColomboThe commercial capital: temples, colonial streets and the Galle Face sea front.6 placesGalleA walled Dutch fort town, golden beaches and the edge of the Sinharaja rainforest.6 placesGampahaNegombo’s beaches and lagoon, and the great temple at Kelaniya.2 placesHambantotaThe dry south-east coast, with Yala and Bundala national parks and old salt pans.4 placesJaffnaThe Tamil north: Nallur temple, a Dutch fort, palmyra palms and quiet islands.8 placesKalutaraBeaches, rubber estates and the riverside Kalutara Bodhiya.1 placesKandyThe hill capital of the last Sinhala kings and home of the Temple of the Tooth.6 placesKegalleGreen rubber country between Colombo and Kandy, with white-water rafting at Kitulgala.1 placesKilinochchiNorthern farmland around the Iranamadu reservoir.0 placesKurunegalaCoconut country with medieval rock-top capitals such as Yapahuwa.3 placesMannarAn island of baobab trees and birdlife, and the ancient Thiruketheeswaram temple.2 placesMataleSigiriya, the Dambulla cave temple and spice gardens.4 placesMataraSouthern beaches, whale watching off Mirissa and the Dondra lighthouse.3 placesMonaragalaThe shrine town of Kataragama and quiet dry-zone forests.5 placesMullaitivuA quiet north-east coast of lagoons and long beaches.0 placesNuwara EliyaCool tea country, Horton Plains and Lake Gregory.4 placesPolonnaruwaThe medieval capital, and the elephant gathering at Minneriya.4 placesPuttalamLagoons and salt pans, dolphins off Kalpitiya and the forests of Wilpattu.3 placesRatnapuraThe city of gems, the Sinharaja rainforest and the old pilgrim path to Sri Pada.2 placesTrincomaleeA deep natural harbour, Koneswaram temple and the beach at Nilaveli.4 placesVavuniyaThe crossroads between the north and the rest of the island.0 places